Are there any army nurses out there who can give me advice?

[maureen82]

I just started a BSN program last year. I want to be a member of the army nurse corps in the reserves. I am thinking of enlisting now in the reserves as an army medic and using the GI bill to pay for school. My question is, once I graduate and pass my exams, how difficult is it to get promoted to officer and join the nurse corps? Should I wait until after I graduate? I need the money now, but don't want to be stuck in my medic mos three years from now when I graduate. I want to be able to advance.

[cougarnurse]

Maureen, we do have a member who just got back from Iraq; his name is SoldierNurse. Will send him a messege to reply.

'Cat'

[SoldierNurse]

I just started a BSN program last year. I want to be a member of the army nurse corps in the reserves. I am thinking of enlisting now in the reserves as an army medic and using the GI bill to pay for school. My question is, once I graduate and pass my exams, how difficult is it to get promoted to officer and join the nurse corps? Should I wait until after I graduate? I need the money now, but don't want to be stuck in my medic mos three years from now when I graduate. I want to be able to advance.

Here are my thoughts... finish your BSN program FIRST, then seek out your local Army Health Care Recruiter to submit Army Nurse Corps Reserve application packets. Why?...

You cannot get promoted to officer from enlisted ranks, as you stated. I realize you are not familiar with the military, which is why you inquired. The enlisted Soldiers and officers are seperate. You would run the risk of remaining in the enlisted ranks long after completing your BSN program.

Plus, if you were a combat medic in the Army Reserves [USAR] you run the risk of getting mobilzed to active duty, therefore your BSN program would be interrupted. I will say I was in the USAR Nurse Corps as an ADN and was attending a civilian RN-BSN program while in the reserves. However, IMHO combat medics in the USAR seem to be more frequently mobilized than Army Nurse Corps officers in the reserves.

[SoldierNurse]

maureen82, do you need any further assistance regards to the ANC?

[LivingDeadNurse]

i have been out of the military for awhile now and if i remember there are programs where u can go to school and the military picks up the bill so long as you give them so many years after you graduate so that might be an option too. hope that helps.

[SoldierNurse]

i have been out of the military for awhile now and if i remember there are programs where u can go to school and the military picks up the bill so long as you give them so many years after you graduate so that might be an option too. hope that helps.

... thanks for your military service

[LivingDeadNurse]

you don't have to thank me. i never served any war time. thank you..you guys did all the hard work